How are hornets?

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In Belarus and central Russia are not so many insects, dangerous to man. Particular among these are large wasps - hornets. Rumours gives them some human qualities - cunning and vengeful, ascribes almost reasonable behavior. Of course, this is an exaggeration. The nervous system of insects rather primitive. But the features of social organization and social life of black and yellow beauties can not fail to arouse interest.

I'm not mistaken, it was beautiful. The vast majority of hornets - females. Chief among them - the queen, the length of which reaches three and a half centimeters. Working individuals nearly a half times less.

With the onset of heat queen wakes up from hibernation. Before her challenge - to create your own kingdom, become the progenitor of an entire dynasty. Having found a suitable place, the queen builds a paper nest - cells in two or three dozen cells. The paper's own production, chewed and glued wood saliva.

Honeycombs - individual nurseries for gluttonous larvae. They are easy to bring up. For rapid growth need protein "meat" diet. About a month my mother-wasp tirelessly hunts for insects. Sgoda any that will be it for the forces, including smaller wasps with bees.

Careful queen rational approach to the organization of child nutrition. Nizkopitatelnye abdomen, head and wings of the victims without pity discarded. Breast, which contains the greatest amount of protein, thoroughly masticated, and the resulting "Stuffing" fed larvae. All the best - to children.

In the early summer of the first brigade of workers leaving the OS cell. Now the queen can pass on their concern for the growing larvae, focusing on their "direct" obligations - laying eggs.

In contrast to the larvae of adults working individuals vegetarian. Captured insects - just for posterity. Sami wasps prefer carbohydrate diet - plant sap, nectar. It is noteworthy that in the stormy days when the departure from the nest is difficult, their nurses are beginning to feed the larvae, emphasizing the droplets of liquid carbohydrate.

Life is short of the working bees, only about a month. But this time she manages to feed the numerous replacement. The number of families is growing exponentially and by early September can be up to fifteen hundred. The total number of wasps need a lot of space, the diameter of the nest at this time can grow to half a meter.

Working bees share the responsibilities. Some nyanchat offspring, fed larvae, and care for them. Others are building new cells, and others are working the guards. Their actions led not only instinct, but also enzymes allocated uterus-queen.

By October the nest there are males and females capable of reproduction. Fertilized young females leave the maternal home in search of a place for the winter. Next spring, they will repeat the cycle and become founder of new dynasties. And the inhabitants of the old nests are doomed. Their mission accomplished. Once teeming life of "home" becomes empty and never populated.

Hornets - the inhabitants of the forest. But the forest is becoming smaller, and human activities are forcing more operating systems to change habits. Increasingly, their settlement can be found in dangerous proximity to the homes of people. Even large cities - is no exception.

Sometimes, defending themselves, their territory and offspring, hornet sting people. Their bite is painful but not deadly. Hornet venom dilates blood vessels and destroys blood cells. It is less toxic to humans than bee venom. But the hornets do not die after the bite, and are able to pull out the sting and apply it again. That is why the hornets dangerous bees. Sting accompanied by characteristic symptoms of poisoning: acute pain, swelling, inflammation at the site of the bite, headache, heart palpitations, dizziness and fever.

Meeting with the hornet's nest is dangerous. Do not out of curiosity to approach him, make noise and make sudden movements. Disturbed nest very aggressively. Duty guards raised the alarm, and the attack of insects may follow immediately. If it occurred, can only escape by flight.